HOW TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING IS A GOOD DEAL WHEN SHOPPING SECONDHAND

I’m going to try and answer the age old secondhand shopping/Facebook Marketplace question today:

“how do I know if something is a good deal?”

This is a tricky topic because the price of something truly is subjective. What you’re willing to pay is different for everyone, and what you’re willing to sell something for is different for everyone. We all have our price points that we’re comfortable with and have sources where we go to buy things at prices within our comfort level.

Maybe your comfort level is 1stDibs, maybe someone else’s is Craigslist.

My response to “how do you know something is a good deal” is usually that it has to feel like a good deal to you. But if you’re newer to the secondhand playing field, you won’t know what is or isn’t a good deal right away. 

Again, it will take time to train your eye to not only recognize quality vs. crap, but also good deals vs. bad deals. I often see people posting stuff on FB MP at a ridiculously high price, because they saw something similar sold on 1stDibs for $$$$$$$. They think they have a treasure (and they might), BUT it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth that price, or that someone would even pay a fraction of what they’re pricing it at.

Sellers really should be looking at eBay, or auction sites. People don’t realize that 1stdibs has a different target audience; someone who is likely working with a high-end designer and has a much larger budget. Not thrifters like you and me. Here’s a quick rundown of secondhand sites and pricing:

• 1stDibs: $$$$$$
• Chairish: $$$$
• eBay/etsy: $$-$$$
• Estate Sales: $-$$$
• FB MP/CL: $-$$$
• Thrift/Consignment Stores: $-$$

Here are some general rules that I personally follow to determine if something is a good deal or not:

• If I see an item at night before bed, and I wake up the next morning thinking about it (or even lose sleep over it), it’s probably a good deal
• If it’s ~50%+ off what I’d find it for at retail or on 1stDibs, it’s a good deal
• If it costs less or is better quality than a modern-made, similar product 
• When it’s a unicorn/hard-to-come-by item
• If you buy something and regret it, but can at least get rid of it for what you paid, it was a good deal
• If you buy something and it served a purpose or made you happy for even a short amount of time and you can get rid of it for any amount, it was a good deal
• If you truly love the item and feel like you’ll deeply regret passing it up, it’s a good deal
• I also have a general understanding of brands. $300 for a used Raymor & Flanigan sofa is a ripoff, but $300 for a vintage Baker sofa in good condition is a steal

The beauty of missing a good deal or getting a bad deal is that you eventually learn to be more prudent and patient. There’s a lot of stuff in the secondhand world and you will soon learn what speaks to you and how much it’s worth to you. Here are some examples of what I consider to be good deals that I’ve scored in the past:

I have so many more good deals, but wanted to share my latest (which is currently on the way to me from Wellesley, MA):

TEN Soane Britain Scrolling Fern curtain panels.

A designer friend confirmed the original price to make all ten of these panels was likely between $8-$10k. I purchased all ten for $2k, plus $250 for shipping. Obviously $2k is not cheap, but I know I could always resell for what I paid and they’re worth way more than what I paid. I can’t wait until they get here and I can share more!

Hope this post was helpful!

Alisa